Following a conference in London, the UK and Ghana will work harder and more quickly to combat terrorism, organised migration crime, drug trafficking, and other global challenges.
Between July 25 and July 27, the UK Government hosted the second UK-Ghana security dialogue to talk about the two nations’ shared interests in addressing global issues.
As part of their agreement, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and Ghana’s Minister for National Security Kan-Dapaah will work to improve border security, law enforcement agency cooperation, and cyber security in Ghana. They will also support regional solutions to the instability in Ghana’s neighbouring states.
Priti Patel, Home Secretary, said:
“The UK and Ghana has a deep and long-standing relationship, and we are powerful allies when confronting the scourge of organised criminal gangs that operate across our borders.
“Ghana is the beacon of freedom and democracy in West Africa and through our joint work we are tackling global threats and cracking down on the threats to our mutual security.”
Albert Kan-Dapaah, Ghana’s National Security Minister, said:
“The UK is a primary and reliable partner to Ghana, therefore, we welcome essential security initiatives from the UK towards building Ghana’s resilience to address national and regional threats.”
During the initial round of negotiations, the Home Secretary travelled to Ghana last year and inaugurated a new immigration taskforce office with funding from the Home Office.
The collaborative effort has prevented 56 people from entering the UK illegally since January 2022, disrupting 14 organised crime groups and saving the UK over £812,000 in the process.
The UK government is collaborating with other nations through the New Plan for Immigration to combat the abhorrent people traffickers that operate internationally and exploit vulnerable people.
On July 25, the Home Secretary hosted a reception at Lancaster House with the Ghanaian delegation before colleagues discussed severe and organised crime, border control, security, combatting terrorism and violent extremism, conflict prevention, and military issues over the course of a two-day event.
Defence staff gathered to talk about maritime security, regional stability, peacekeeping, and counterterrorism.
James Heappey MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, said:
“The UK is committed to expanding defence co-operation with the Ghanaian Armed Forces and we will continue to work together in frameworks such as the Accra Initiative to counter violent attacks and insurgency in West Africa and the Sahel.”
Read more about the security and defence dialogue between the UK and Ghana